Palmyra

Better late than never.

My new blog motto. We have done some really important and amazing things in the past few months. Things that I want to remember forever, so I know I need to journal them. I love keeping a family journal on this little blog so pardon the lack of chronology here.

After Leon finished finals, we decided to make the trip to Palmyra, NY that has always been on our bucket list. We drove the three hours to Albany and stayed the night in a hotel. Ellie loves hotels. She runs directly to the bed and starts jumping and screaming, "Its party time!!" Love that girl. And I'm pretty sure the Marriott in Albany had the best blueberry muffins I have ever had. I love me a good blueberry muffin. We even got in a trip to the pool. Can't beat running around playing sea monster with this toe head two year old.

The next day we drove the next three hours to Palmyra. It was an unbelievable drive. So pretty. We went and toured Joseph Smith's house and farm then we went into the sacred grove. The log cabin that the Smiths lived in when Joseph was a boy was tiny. And we complain about our boston digs, ha.

The family outside of the Smith's log cabin house

 The Smiths old log cabin

I don't know why I put this on here but its the inside of the cabin. Not really important but I'm too lazy to edit.

In the Smith's apple orchard

Mommy and Ellie bonding time cooling our toes in the creek.

Love my little piece of perfect.

 The sacred grove

When we entered the grove a peaceful spirit overcame me. I knew without a doubt that something very special happened there. I knew that God the Father and Christ Himself showed there presence in that grove and I was humbled to be able to walk in such a holy place. I felt so close to the Savior and Heavenly Father and felt so grateful for all I have been given in this life. I am beyond blessed and know that the time we spent in that special place with our family was priceless.

The next day Leon got up early and did a session at the temple. I was able to go as well when he got home. Then we took the kids to the temple to check it out. Elle wanted to go inside so badly but was content admiring the flowers outside. It took everything in her little body to not pick them. I had to keep telling her that they were Jesus' flowers and that we can't pick them. She also had been learning a special song that she performed in front of the temple. Hearing her sing I Love to See the Temple is one of the most special things in the world. I love it so much.

 My Love.

Then we went to the visitor's center at Hill Cumorhuh and watched a video about families that really touched my heart. Mostly because mine was to be sealed in the temple in just a few days from then. How grateful I am for them. A missionary gave Ellie a picture of Jesus that she wouldn't put down. She said she wanted to put it in her room when she got to London. You can see her holding it in the picture below. We trecked up the hill and got so see the monument. Elle kept asking if she could go find the gold plates. She really wanted them because gold is her favorite (she has learned to say everything is her favorite because she can get what she wants that way...manipulative girl ;) ).

It was such a fun trip. I love spending time with these folks.

Brighton

Guess what! We are officially in England. It has been a week and we have already done and seen so much. The city with little ones is quite the experience. I try to get out everyday and see something new and I always come back exhausted. In the past week my two year old and 7 month old have been to the museum of London, the Tate Modern, Borough Market (more than once), Trafalgar square, St. James Park, Buckingham Palace, Spaitlefield Market, the British Museum, and the London South Bank. Talk about an exciting week, right? Ellie even asks me one day, "Mom, what are we going to learn at the museum today?" You know you are being a good parent when they start asking that right? haha. I think that makes Holli a great parent because my nephew asks her stuff like that all the time. 

Anyway, most recently we took a family trip to the seaside town of Brighton. Leon and I got up early Saturday morning and packed up the kids and headed to the train station. It was freezing and cloudy and we were all a little nervous that mother nature did not have the perfect beach day in store for us, but we ventured on. It was our first train ride as a family through the English countryside and it was beautiful. There is something so charming about an English cottage surrounded by sparkling green grass. The sun was finally coming out and it made for some wonderful scenery. So after an enchanting 45 min train ride we were there.

First stop in Brighton was the Marina and beach of course. We sat by the sea and ate our home made lunch.  The beach was full of pebbles instead of sand and it was a little less comfy than the beaches back home, but it still made for a great time. In fact, I loved it for Jet because he wasn't able to take handfuls of sand and fill his mouth with them. He just sucked on rocks the whole time. Which I'm cool with. Ellie loved throwing the rocks into the sea. So did Daddy come to think of it.

After lunch we took a stroll along the beach. We walked to the boardwalk and were amazed at what a fun place Brighton was. It is so funny how one's conception of fun changes once they become a parent. I couldn't wait to watch Ellie ride those silly little kiddie rides. She especially loved the carousel and the kiddie roller coaster. I loved the light house slide. 

We ate fish and chips, made some new friends and finished the day off with some chocolate and a walk down the Themes. It was such a perfect day and I wish Leon didn't have to go to work and that money grew on trees so that everyday could be so good haha.

We love and miss you all!

Love, Us

 First train ride. I give them and A+.

 So nice to have Daddy's help

 Lunch on the beach. Sandwich for me and rocks for Jet pack.

 Bahaha I love Jet's face here. He is too funny.

Marathon Monday 2013

What a wonderful, yet awful day yesterday was. My heart is broken for my fellow Bostonians and the tragedy that has befallen our beloved little city. They are in our hearts and prayers.

We started the day excited about our trip to the infamous Boston Marathon. I packed the kids up and drove to Newton where we met up with some friends around mile 19. Ellie had so much fun cheering on the runners. She would yell bits of encouragement like, "Your doing great!" or "Run fast!" I love her. Jet just kinda went along for the ride and thankfully was a good boy. I love him too.

The Highlight of the trip was Ellie passing out oranges to the runners. She would take the orange slice and hold it in her little hand. When a runner would take the orange from that sticky little palm, she would be so excited and she would jump up and down. I noticed that most of the takers were women, they must have had the maternal instinct to know that by taking a piece of fruit they would make this little two year old's day. I loved them for it. The runners of the marathon are always so fun to watch. There were people dressed up like tinker belle and Dorthy and then there were service men and women fully suited carrying a huge pack. The day was full of triumph and fun. Everyone was so excited and supportive of each other. I loved when the runners would have their names written on their shirts because Ellie and I would cheer extra hard for them, using their name of course.

Then she found a friend. This little monkey entertained Elle for like an hour. What is it with this girl and animals? I couldn't keep her away from this little weird purple creature. So naturally, I had to take a picture of her dancing with it. haha.

We found out about the bombings after we picked Leon up from school. Of course Harvard doesn't celebrate patriots day, boo. We were shocked and so grateful to be safe from all of this violence. I couldn't help but think "why is it we can't go anywhere these days?" I thought of all of the wonderful first responders and as I was hearing stories of the medical staff running into the explosions, I wasn't surprised one bit. I know these people all too well and am proud to have worked with many of them. Boston medical professionals are a whole different breed and they are truly amazing people. We need good people in this world. I hope I am raising good people. I hope I am teaching my little people to love one another and to make this world a better place. I know they make my world a better place.

Pray for Boston.

Jet: 4 months

Yes, it's true, my itty bitty boyfriend is 4 months old now.

Where did the time go?

It is so true what people say about second babies, they grow up way faster than first babies. I always say this, but it is more and more true every time the words leave my mouth, I wish that I could stop time and bottle up my babies before they become kids. I dread having an eight or nine year old. Honestly, I abhor 8-13 year olds. Ugh they are the worst. Anyway I know my kids will hit those awkward ages and my mind might change, but before they do I will just bottle up their baby perfection via pictures and blog posts.

Jet is perfect. Albeit he is still crying a lot and some days I'm at my wits end, for the most part I am just obsessed with this little boy. Even more obsessed is little Ellie Bean. She cannot leave the baby alone. Hands down the best part about having two kids is watching them interact. He loves to watch her every move and she loves to kiss his beautiful face. They are perfect for each other.

At four months Jet:

-Is an expert roller. Front to back, back to front, in fact, I've caught him trying to roll backwards a few times lol.

-He is still breastfeeding like a champion. I love breastfeeding. Awful aesthetically for the breasts, but oh so good for my soul. And quite convenient might I add.

-He gives the best smiles.

-He sleeps through the night, yet will occasionally wake at two for a little snack.

-Is not interested in cuddling. So weird, but the only time he really cuddles is when he is breastfeeding (probably why I like it so much)

-Never. Stops. Moving. He is such a wiggle worm. Whether he is kicking his feet or turning his head, the boy is always moving.

-Started solids. Loves him some oatmeal.

-He loves to be outside.

-Has the most perfect squeal ever heard.

-Loves taking bathes and swimming in the tub

-And thanks to Holli and Jill, is the best dressed baby on the block.

Holli took these succulent pieces of eye candy the other day. He is getting so big, love this boy.

Kids

They are the best and worst part of my life right now.

Half the time I'm running around like crazy after the two year old while hauling around the three month old the other half the time I really think I am going crazy as I deal with temper tantrums and poopy diapers. 

And then there are those moments (in my life I have a lot more than I deserve) when a little hands grab mine, a little voice tells me she loves me, or a little boy flashes me a heart melting smile. In these moments I can't help but find my sanity and recharge. I'm willing and ready to take on another day of this crazy thing called motherhood.

Now, I can't believe that through all the whining and diapers and library trips and snow escapades that I haven't made time for my little blog. I am so upset with myself, because these special times go by way too fast and I need to be able to remember all of the things my little creatures do and say. So, I've set a goal to be better at doing exactly that.

So here goes.

Baby Jet.

Jet is now three months old. He is a handful to say the least. He is very particular about things such as: he likes to be held and his holder must be standing up and ensure that the boy's face is out to the world, he also likes to sleep with his face smothered in my body or a blanket (don't worry I won't let him suffocate), and he hates to be swaddled but can't sleep well unswaddled. I spend the majority of my day trying to make him happy. He won't use a binky (surprise, surprise) and has decided that only my breast will do to comfort him. So basically there are a lot of times that I can't do anything to comfort him and he just wants to cry. This breaks my heart. I love him. And he loves me. That smile he gives me every morning and every time  I throw a "hi" his way could just throw me to the moon. He sleeps like a champion and has basically since we brought him home from the hospital. I put him to bed around 8 or 8:30 and he goes right to sleep. He wakes up at 4am to eat and then is up at 7am. Speaking of eating, he also eats like a champion. He hasn't been using bottles much so he would rather not take them but will if he has to. He is still eating every two to three hours during the day. He is totally my little buddy and goes everywhere with me. It may or may not have to do with the fact that he is breast feeding and is a horrible baby for anyone else who watches him including his dad, so I don't like leaving him. He has recently found his toes. He loves to play with them but doesn't eat them like little Ellie did. He prefers to eat his fingers instead. Did I mention his temper? I better not because it might keep me from having any more kids in the future. He looks a lot like me at times and other times he is all Leon. I think that means he must be a good mix. His blue eyes are to die for (just like Daddy's and Ellie's). He is a really long baby and at his last appointment was measuring about 25 1/2 inches I think he weighed 12.6 pounds too. Kind of tall and skinny. I guess I don't produce chubby babies. I must have skim breast milk.

Then there is Ellie.

Oh Ellie. Ellie is now almost two and a half. She is the most precious little girl you ever did see. I am so  in love with little Ellie it is not even funny. She loves looking beautiful. In fact, I have figured out if you tell her something is beautiful you likely can get her to wear or do it. She wears a beautiful dress everyday. Her favorite is this red velvet like dress that her Nana gave her. I put it on her for Thanksgiving dinner and three months later she has hardly taken it off. I have to sneak it in the laundry and sometimes hide it so it can be washed. She yells at Holli and says with her little fists on her waist and her waist bend forward so her face sticks in yours, "Holli do not put my dress in the laundry!". It is super rude, but super funny. I'm working on being nicer about that with her. It is known in our home as her "beautiful dress". When she thinks she looks beautiful she will close her eyes and lift one of her shoulders up and give you this adorable smile. She loves to dance in her beautiful dresses, but got her mamas rhythm so she mostly just twirls around. Along with her beautiful dress you will most likely find her wearing a princess crown and putting on red lipstick. I. hate. red lipstick. She wears it way too much and it gets all over everything. ugh. But I can only say no to her so many times.

Ellie also loves her bean. This is her pink blanket that her Mimi made for her. This blanket has basically gone everywhere her little body has gone the past two years. She sleeps with it every night and thinks that it just holds the moon. I tell her to put a jacket on to go outside and she tells me that all she needs is her bean. Or we will be walking outside and she will proclaim that it is "super freezing, I need my bean".  I love that bean and red dress. I think I will keep them forever.

Ellie is quite the talker these days. I have full on conversations with her that include a lot of funny things and a lot of sass. She will say the ABCs and count to 15 for you. In fact, she sings the ABCs when Jet is crying to try and calm him down. It works pretty well. She is very stubborn and will sometimes spend 10 minutes in time out before she will put her coat on to go outside. Mostly she refuses to put a coat on because it will hide her beautiful dress. She is constantly making me both laugh and cry haha. She can throw some wicked tantrums and then the next minute tell ask me if I remember when I said I love you to her and gave her a bunch of kisses. Haha she knows exactly how to push my buttons and melt my heart. She loves her Daddy.  They have kind of this magical relationship that is very special and I hope never goes away.

Elle is now sleeping in her own bed (until she sneaks in with us in the middle of the night), going potty on the big girl toilet, and loving being a big girl.

She still doesn't eat very well but is doing better. She is also just tall and skinny. She was in the 75%tile for height and 30%tile for weight at her two year old appointment. But I'm sure she has grown since then. She is looking taller and taller everyday. And that red dress will soon need leggings.

                              

My kids are growing up way too fast and I wish there were a button to stop time. I am so grateful for the opportunity to raise them and kiss their sweet faces every day.

I can't wait to take them to London in three months. We will have a jolly ol time. We love and miss you all.

Love,

Us

When I Think About You

When I think about you

I think about a Utah fall

My freshman year

Watching the Cougars play ball

When I think about you

I think about 4 am

At our look out point

In your chevy S10

I think about eighteen

Being all in love

With the most beautiful boy

I’d ever seen.

When I think about you,

I think about the desert sun

I think about the Midwest bugs

And the heart I won.

When I think about you,

I think about the tears I cried

I think about my broken heart

The morning we said goodbye

That perfect smile

I never could be mad

We always did make up

Whether good or bad

When I think about you

I think about wearing white

I think about promises made

And the kiss that felt so right

When I think about you

I think about Ellie Callait

How we laughed and cried

Welcoming her that day

When I think about you

I think about our little Jet

And how he caught our hearts

Without a net.

When I think about you

I think about eternity

I think about how in your arms

 Is the perfect place for me.

Six Weeks

My Baby is six weeks old today!!

Boy has the time flown. First Halloween, then Thanksgiving, and now Christmas... Bah time is getting away from me. Thankfully, I live about ten houses down from Holli and we realized this morning that today is Jet's birthday. So, naturally we had to document the six week milestone. 

I'm so enjoying the blessing I have to be able to stay at home and enjoy my children the past six weeks. I am so in love with both of them.

Jet is a great sleeper. He will sleep like two or three hour stretches during the day and will sleep 5-6 hour stretches at night. He is such a morning person, it's then that you will catch him throwing smiles your way.  He also has quite a temper. He will go from completely content to a full out temper tantrum in about 2 seconds. He smells lovely and is in love with his mama. Lucky me. He loves to be swaddled and rocked goodnight. He is a great eater and hasn't had a lick of formula. At his two month appointment he was 23 inches long and 10 Ibs 12 oz that put him in the 80th percentile for height and 60th for weight.

He is going on his first airplane ride on Sunday and will be visiting Mimi and Grandma Julie over Christmas break. We will be blessing him in Thatcher over the holidays and are so excited for him to meet the rest of our families.

Here are some of his six week shots.

I guess he has gotten a little bigger since these (his newborn pictures where he was 4 days old) :( This boy owns my heart and I thank my Heavenly Father every day for his presence in our family.